posted on June 14, 2001 11:36:25 AM new
Auction in question is 1152949072. Italian
metal roses, birds, candle sconce. Very clearly stated that his would be professionally packed for shipment. UPS outlet in my town says $37 for shipping
(Arizona to Texas) because of the SIZE of the package -- and $30 for packing. Total $67. I went to two other places. One was
almost identical, but didn't include insurance. The other estimated quite a bit higher. I e-mailed buyer, who replied that
she is "taken aback by the shipping". She says she's checked and I can get a $6 box
and shipping could only be $25.88. Said she
checked with UPS. I don't want to risk damage to the piece, but she's pleading
poverty. She's asking me to do better, but
says she'll send payment if there's nothing
I can do. I think I'll leave it as is. May
get a "negative" out of it. But it might be worth it. IS THERE a less expensive way to
send this piece. I will help her if I can.
Experts, please help.
posted on June 14, 2001 11:52:55 AM new
Something like that would have to be double-boxed with plenty of cushioning between the boxes. I'm guessing that she does not realize that. If it is not packed adequately, insurance will not cover the damage, so it is wise not to skimp on the packaging.
Go ahead and price 2 boxes and peanuts plus shipping if you want to. Did you provide her with the quotes from the other shipping outlets?
She should have asked about the shipping charges beforehand if she was concerned about the cost.
posted on June 14, 2001 11:57:05 AM new
Probably not, unless you are willing to package it your self. Large boxes get charged as 30 or 70 lbs (depending on how large), even if empty. No "professional" packing service is going to pack something like this up for cheap. We also package a lot of large, strange shaped items, and package them ourselves, but I get 20 to 25 dollars for packaging a boat motor for shipment, and at least 2/3 of that goes for materials.
The $6.00 is about right for a box, but there is also bubble wrap, and styro foam.
posted on June 14, 2001 12:20:49 PM new
If the thought of the neg bothers you that badly offer to let her out of the deal. when you do fvf one of the choices is buyer and seller mutually agreed not to do the deal or something like that
re-list and emphisize proffresinal packing and give shipping estimate, something to the effect shipping and packing will run 70 to 100 dollars
posted on June 14, 2001 12:30:22 PM new
If I had to pack it, I would do this. First get the correct size box. Make sure it is larger to encompass the extra bubble wrap and shredding or peanuts. I know this will take some time, but it may be worth the peace of mind. Take the bubble wrap, section into pieces and wrap around all the pieces that are protruding, including the candleholders. Take newspaper, wad it up, not too tightly and stuff them under each candle holder. From the picture, you may only be able to do that with three of them. Bubble wrap the holders on the ends and then wrap them again with newspaper about 2/3 pieces thick. After you do that wrap the entire piece in bubble wrap. The larger bubble size will probably be best for this. Since there will be space in between the sections that protrude place peanuts/shredding or wadded up newspaper so that when you finish wrapping and taping the bubble wrap, the wrapping will be level. (a big square so to speak) (does that make sense?) Then I would wrap it again in newspaper, 2/3 pieces thick. This is why you need the bigger box, the item will be larger, but well protected. The easiest type of box for you would be one that opens on the side, but mostly likely it would be tall and open on the skinny side. Place shredding/peanuts on the bottom 3/4" thick. Center the item in the box. While holding the item in the center, gently put in peanuts or pack newspaper shredding around it, keeping it centered. Place plenty of shredding on the top of the item and then seal with tape. I know that sounds like it would take a lot of time, but I go to this depth for all of my items and have had great success. However, on the down side in the end, the postage may be as much or more because of all the padding. Good luck.
Now my 2cents worth. "If a person can't afford the shipping, they have no business bidding"
posted on June 14, 2001 01:28:43 PM new
You even stated in the description that it would be professionally wrapped and shipped. I would stick to the amount quoted.
posted on June 14, 2001 04:11:31 PM new
She sound like a bidder I had in the not too distant past. I sold a big old metal trunk. In my TOS I said that shipping would probably be quite a bit but my handling fee would be no more than $2 (and that would just be going towards part of the cost of bubblewrap/peanuts.) I listed it once and it didn't sell, so I knocked the price way down to just $30 and it closed at about $36. Bidder sends over her address and I checked UPS and USPS and sent her a list letting her know that she could choose which she preferrred since UPS was quite a bit cheaper. It was about $34. She emailed back that this was too much. Seems she had bought something about the same size and another seller charged her $20 for shipping, so "could I do any better"? I spent more time looking at the USPS and UPS sites again, just making sure my estimate was correct and it was so eventually she wound up paying it. She couldn't seem to understand that I was not making any money on the shipping and the other seller who charged her $20 may have taken a loss on the shipping. Who knows.
Stick to your guns on it! Your TOs was clear. She could have asked. AND I agree, if shipping is too expensive then why bid on the item in the first place. You can either afford it or you can't.
Good luck!
"I think it pi**** off god if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." Alice Walker
posted on June 14, 2001 05:22:22 PM new
Thanks everyone for your help. Especially llamalady for her extensive tips on packaging. Appreciate all. I've spent too
much time on this already and think I'm sticking to the price.
posted on June 14, 2001 05:40:42 PM new
Stick to your terms. In the past, I had a couple of buyers pull almost exactly the same bs that ashlandtrader describes. I caved in. Then, I found out that I had not charged them enough to even cover the postage!
I regretted being a pushover in those situations. So, learn from my mistakes and follow your own TOS. Good luck to you!
posted on June 15, 2001 06:54:31 AM new
Ok my 2 cents on a buyers stand point.
I checked out your auction, yeah it does state that you will have it packed professionally, but you don't give any estimate on the cost. I did not know that you can have items professionally packed let alone it costing that high for it. You should have at least stated an estimated price for the cost, maybe then the bidder can decide if she can afford that before bidding. Yeah, she could have e-mailed and asked about it, but seeing that statement I wouldn't have thought it would be that high to have a pro do it, maybe alittle extra but not that much. The shipping is more than half of the price that auction went for!!
Consider also that the bidder looks like a newbie.
Its a beautiful piece though! I can understand why you a pro to pack it in the first place, but I think you should have at least gave an estimate on the shipping price.
posted on June 15, 2001 07:15:01 AM new
I know you say UPS, but shipping on a 6 1/2 pound package using priority mail would be 8.95 if shipped, for example, from my zip to yours. If you packed it and it weighed a little more than that, it still would not cost as much to send it as you have stated if you sent it USPS in stead of UPS.
It also says, "thick metal". If it is thick then it probably won't suffer damage. Also they could always insure it in case it does.
You might could help out the buyer by trying to ship it a different way. I realize that it does say UPS, but because of the "cost" to ship it that way, you might could try the PO instead.
posted on June 15, 2001 03:08:43 PM new
jwoodcrafts
The poster said the box is over size. The postal service has the SAME wieght penities on over size boxes as UPS, 84 inchs (L + W + girth) = 30 lbs. min. cost 108 inchs = 70 lbs. min. cost.
